'Game of Thrones' author releases new chapter

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

Fan favorite Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is in danger of seeing her empire crumble in season 6. She was last seen in perilous circumstances, surrounded by a Dothraki horde, although Jorah -- and possibly a dragon or two -- may be coming to her aid.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) was last seen in Dorne and could have revenge on his mind. New trailers show him leading an army to the gates of the Sept and confronting the High Sparrow.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

The sadistic Boltons -- father Roose (Michael McElhatton, left) and legitimized son Ramsay (Iwan Rheon) -- look set to return to flay some more victims in season 6. But judging by new trailers, their army appears under attack from several fronts.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

Will a blind Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) continue her training after disobeying orders from the Faceless Men in Braavos? Mentor Jaqen H'ghar says she will get only one more chance.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

The resurfacing of Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) gives hope to fans of the seafaring Iron Islands family that their story will be explored in season 6.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

Balon's daughter, Yara (Gemma Whelan), is one of the series' many strong female characters. She may be ready to seek vengeance on those who wronged her brother, Theon.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

Samwell Tarly (John Bradley-West) and Gilly (Hannah Murray) leave the Wall in season 6 so that he can train to become a maester. But as we've seen, there are few safe havens for anyone in Westeros.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

Two well-liked characters, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Varys (Conleth Hill), will be seen in administrative roles, managing Daenerys' fragile empire in her absence.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

The fiercely loyal Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) has so far failed to rescue Sansa Stark from the evil Boltons. But new trailers suggest she may still prevail in her quest.

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Photos:What's coming on 'Game of Thrones'

Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright, left) appears here to be standing -- a marked improvement on his lower-body paralysis over the majority of the past five seasons. He's seen here with a new character, the Three-Eyed Raven (Max von Sydow).

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(CNN)Winter is still coming.

George R.R. Martin has released a chapter from "The Winds of Winter," but fans are going to have to wait for the book.

Martin recently announced the sample chapter on his "Not A Blog" site along with a taste of "High Stakes," a book he has coming out in August.

"And... because I know how much b***hing I'd get if I offered a new sample from Wild Cards without also doing one from A SONG OF ICE & FIRE... we've also changed the WINDS OF WINTER sample on my website, replacing the Alayne chapter that's been there for the past year with one featuring Arianne Martell. (Some of you may have heard me read this one at cons)," Martin wrote.

"The Winds of Winter" is the sixth book in the planned "Game of Thrones" series of seven novels.

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Folks shouldn't get too excited, however, as Martin said he is still hard at work on the book.

"You want to know what the Sand Snakes, Prince Doran, Areo Hotah, Ellaria Sand, Darkstar, and the rest will be up to in 'Winds of Winter?' Quite a lot, actually," he wrote. "The sample will give you a taste. For the rest, you will need to wait."

The HBO series "Game of Thrones" is currently in its sixth season. Actor John Bradley, who plays Samwell Tarly, told The Hollywood Reporter that the series will be moving away from the novels' storylines a bit.

"What you're going to see [this season] is something inspired by the books, and maybe not necessarily what you're going to see in the next book," he said. "We're not ahead of the books -- we're just diverging from the books."